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§ 4304. Endangering welfare of children

Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated StatutesTitle 18 Pa.C.S.A. Crimes and OffensesEffective: August 28, 2017

Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated Statutes
Title 18 Pa.C.S.A. Crimes and Offenses (Refs & Annos)
Part II. Definition of Specific Offenses (Refs & Annos)
Article D. Offenses Against the Family (Refs & Annos)
Chapter 43. Offenses Against the Family
Subchapter A. Definition of Offenses Generally
Effective: August 28, 2017
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 4304
§ 4304. Endangering welfare of children
Currentness
(a) Offense defined.--
(1) A parent, guardian or other person supervising the welfare of a child under 18 years of age, or a person that employs or supervises such a person, commits an offense if he knowingly endangers the welfare of the child by violating a duty of care, protection or support.
(2) A person commits an offense if the person, in an official capacity, prevents or interferes with the making of a report of suspected child abuse under 23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to child protective services).
(3) As used in this subsection, the term “person supervising the welfare of a child” means a person other than a parent or guardian that provides care, education, training or control of a child.
(b) Grading.--
(1) Except as provided under paragraph (2), the following apply:
(i) An offense under this section constitutes a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(ii) If the actor engaged in a course of conduct of endangering the welfare of a child, the offense constitutes a felony of the third degree.
(iii) If, in the commission of the offense under subsection (a)(1), the actor created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury, the offense constitutes a felony of the third degree.
(iv) If the actor's conduct under subsection (a)(1) created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury and was part of a course of conduct, the offense constitutes a felony of the second degree.
(2) The grading of an offense under this section shall be increased one grade if, at the time of the commission of the offense, the child was under six years of age.
(c) Counseling.--A court shall consider ordering an individual convicted of an offense under this section to undergo counseling.

Credits

1972, Dec. 6, P.L. 1482, No. 334, § 1, effective June 6, 1973. Amended 1988, Dec. 19, P.L. 1275, No. 158, § 1, effective in 60 days; 1995, July 6, P.L. 251, No. 31, § 1, effective in 60 days; 2006, Nov. 29, P.L. 1581, No. 179, § 1, effective in 60 days [Jan. 29, 2007]; 2017, June 29, P.L. 246, No. 12, § 1, effective in 60 days [Aug. 28, 2017].
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 4304, PA ST 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 4304
Current through Act 11 of the 2024 Regular Session. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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